Etymologically
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architectus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ar.kʰɪˈtɛk.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ar.kiˈtɛk.tus][1]

Forms

architectus m (genitive architectī, feminine architecta); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀρχιτέκτων (arkhitéktōn, “master builder”), from ἀρχι- (arkhi-, “chief”) and τέκτων (téktōn, “builder”), adapted.[2][1][3] The form ⟨architectōn⟩ is rare.[4] Inscriptions have ⟨arcitectus⟩.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a master builder.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant a master builder, architect, as Plautus' fabrī architectīque and Cicero's Philo the architect.[2][4][5] In Cicero it also meant a designer, deviser, the author of a plan or a crime.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant an architect.[6] British Medieval Latin also used it ironically.[7] It was borrowed into French architecte, Italian architetto and Spanish arquitecto, and its derivative architectūra gave English architecture in the 1560s.[1][8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of master builders.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a designer.[2][3]
  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of an architect.[4][3]
  • 1560s – English architecture is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A master builder, architect.[2]
  2. A designer, deviser.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com